From state banquets to lavish garden parties – royal meals really do have to be fit for a king. But when the work is done and the posh nosh cleared away, King Charles and the rest of the royals have much simpler tastes.

Queen Camilla is said to like nothing better than porridge and honey for breakfast, while feuding brothers William and Harry love a pizza. The late Queen Elizabeth and her husband Philip famously began the day with the plainest cereals.

For many years, Charles skipped the ‘luxury’ of lunch. He now enjoys half an avocado to keep him going through the day.

From Great British favourites like fish and chips to a ‘lunchtime staple’ of chicken broth, here are the menu choices for the royal family.

Morning

Food critic and author Tom Parker Bowles appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss how the royals started their day and what the King and Queen plump for first thing in the morning. Tom revealed his mother enjoys a good old-fashioned bowl of steamy porridge.

Tom said porridge is the King and Queen’s go-to during the cold winter mornings and is finished off with a generous dollop of homemade honey from Camilla’s bees. Asked if there was anything special about the porridge, Tom replied: “Nope, it’s just good old fashioned porridge made with milk and cream and a bit of honey.”

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales samples some food during a visit to Booths Supermarket ( 
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WireImage)

Lunch

For many years, King Charles was known to skip midday meals, preferring to power through his busy schedule of duties without so much as a sandwich. But following orders from doctors and his wife, the King has now accepted he needs to somehow find the time to fill his stomach.

He has opted for a healthy snack – the avocado. Charles, who is still recovering from his cancer diagnosis, now eats the trendy fruit to keep his strength up.

A source told the Mail: “With some reluctance, he now has something to eat at lunchtime – a snack, really. He now eats half an avocado to sustain him through the day. It’s important, particularly if you have got an illness.”

While Charles tucks into his superfruit, Camilla prefers a traditional chicken broth, packed with cabbage, peas and beans. If that doesn’t hit the mark she’ll have smoked salmon.

The late Queen Elizabeth famously enjoyed an afternoon tea every day. At 5pm, Charles and Camilla will often indulge in a dainty sandwich and potted shrimp selection at one of his royal estates.

Avocado is a favourite of King Charles ( 
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Getty Images/Westend61)

Dinner is served

A classic British dish, roast chicken, is reportedly one of Prince William’s preferred dinners. The prince and princess also enjoy the occasional takeaway, with Indian or Chinese known as their top choices.

In a 2017 interview with BBC Radio 1 host Scott Mills, they confirmed they are “absolutely” allowed to order takeaways. Kate revealed her favourite is “curry, definitely”, while William admitted he’s “not so good with spice”.

When it comes to food at home, Kate reportedly loves to cook Italian food with her children. During a visit to Lavender Primary School, the royal told Matthew Kleiner-Mann they often rustle up a comforting bowl of mac ‘n’ cheese.

He said: “She was telling us how much her children love cooking and how they cook for her. They made cheesy pasta the other day. One stirs the flour, one puts the milk and butter in. And they make salads and stuff.”

Queen Camilla, who has access to world-class chefs, also enjoys the occasional takeaway.

In an interview with her son Tom Parker Bowles for YOU Magazine, she revealed her favourite takeaway is traditional fish and chips, saying: “Freshly cooked fish and chips, wrapped in paper. That smell. You cannot beat proper fish and chips.”

King Charles III leaves the South Oxfordshire Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA) surplus food distribution centre, in Didcot, Oxfordshire ( 
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PA)Prince George’s favourite meal is reportedly spaghetti carbonara. Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli previously told Femail,: ‘[William’s] amazing – I’m waiting for the call because apparently his little boy’s favourite is spaghetti carbonara, so I’m waiting for the call to go and cook it for him.’

William and Harry were pizza fans when they were children and former royal chef Darren McGrady previously told MailOnline that it was their favourite.

He said: ‘I didn’t start really cooking pizzas until I moved to Kensington Palace. William and Harry would have had it every night if Nanny had let them. They loved it.’

When it comes to dessert the royals do sometimes indulge themselves. Healthy Princess Kate reportedly enjoys sticky toffee pudding, though she likes fruit, such as goji berries and papaya as a rule. She told a young patient at Great Ormond Street in 2018: “I used to eat lots and lots of olives when I was little as well.”

The princess enjoys a treat too – back in 2014 she was spotted sharing a bucket of popcorn with her husband on a royal tour of Canada.

The Queen favoured a chocolate biscuit cake as a treat. According to her private chef, the late Queen always enjoyed a Chocolate Bath Oliver biscuit along with her brew. Darren McGrady said: “She is absolutely a chocoholic. Anything we put on the menu that had chocolate on, she would choose, especially chocolate perfection pie.”